The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-08-04

miserable night of his life
As the minutes passed. and Roy did
not appear to claim the remaining
dances she had promised him, Kate's
heart grew heavier and heavier.
With a supreme effort she concealed
her unhappiness; with witty repartee
and merry laughter she hid an aching
heart.
But in the privacy of her own room
she gave way to her grief.
''Oh, why did let him look into nv
eyes and read my secretp" she cried in
an agony of shame.
And the poor girl burst into passion
of tears.
A few days later she heard that Roy
had gone away for some time.
As the weeks glided away, if Kate's
lovely face grew thinner and paler, no
one suspected the cause.
| The season was drawing to a close,
and she rejOieed at the prospect of
leaving a city where she had suffered
so much.
With heavy heart she dressed
for the last reception she expected to
attend.
The rooms were crowded when she
entered, and in the moving mass OF
humanity she failed to see Roy Palmer,
whose eyes never left her face.
Poor Roy! He had trained his heart
for weeks, and it rose in rebellion the
moment he saw the girl.
He started like one shot as he
noticed young man push his way to
kate's side.
It vaS Ctan1av
He bowed over Kate's hand with
him warmly.
With compressed lips Roy turned
away. sick at heart.
Later in the evening he met Stanley
in the dressing-room. In some way
Stanley spoke of her in terms of great
admiration.
''She is an old acquaintance, is she
not? Roy asked.
mo; quite the contrary. / have
only known her a few weeks"
''Do you mean to tell me you were
not acquainted with Miss Neville two
winters ago?" demanded Roy.
A crimson flush spread from Stanley's
collar to the roots of his hair.
.
lative of this Miss Neville, who was
here two winters ago, and who is a very
different kind of girl"
And with a hasty ssgood-nightp
Stanley disappeared, without noticing
how his information had affected Roy.
The floor and ceiling seemed to meet
before the eyes of the young man, and
the things in the room chased each
nf fhoY. IN, tho xxyildocf
Giving himself a shake to restore his
scattered senses, he turned and went
swiftly downstairs.
In a few minutes he was beside
Kate.
''Miss Neville, this is our waltz2"
With a little gasp, Kate turned at the
sound of the voice that four long weeks
before had addressed her in almost the
same words.
The suddenness of the attack was
too much for her; unresisting, she
allowed him to lead her to a small re-
ception-room.
He closed the door, and then all the
mans control left him.
''Oh, Kate, can you ever forgive mef
Can ever make you love meP Believe
me. have been madw
AND he certainly gave her good cause
to think he was still I'm that unhappy
condition.
Keeping her hands locked in@his, he
poured forth his story-incoherently,
perhaps. but it left no doubt in Kate's
mind of his love for her.
Carefully she kept her face averted.
''Ah, my darling, is there nothing ]
can do to win your forgiveness?"
''No," she answered in a low tone.
''You forget l am a woman"
t'Kate, do not break my hearth. he in.
terrupted, catching his breath desper.
ately.
''And to a woman who loves there lie
nothing to forgive" she finished in
whisper, hiding her face on his breast.
Straining her to his heart. he laid his
lips to hers, softly and tenderly, and
in that moment was vouchsafed to
them a foretaste of heaven.
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